Epic crashes at the Sochi Winter Olympics

While providing its usual mix of thrills and electric finishes, the Winter Olympics in Sochi is also a haven to some of the most profound photography to capture the spirit of the games. For these winter games, like those before them, that has led to some marvelous pictures of the game's athletes at their lowest moments, tumbling and crashing while the world watches. Here are some of the Sochi games' epic crashes, including Russia's Ilya Burov (pictured), who crashed after landing during men's freestyle skiing aerials qualifying.
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In this photo provided by RIA Novosti Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, spoke to skier Maria Komissarova in a hospital in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014. The 23-year-old Russian ski cross racer fractured her spine during a training session Saturday and underwent a 6 and a half hour surgery.
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David J. Phillip / AP photo

Canada's Charles Hamelin crashed and slid into the wall during the men's 500m short track speedskating heat at the Iceberg Skating Palace.
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Andy Wong / AP photo

China's Li Nina crashed on her final jump during the women's freestyle skiing aerials final.
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Andy Wong / AP photo

Canada's Travis Gerrits goes head first into the snow on landing during men's freestyle skiing aerials qualifying.
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Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Japan's Taihei Kato was treated by medical staff after crashing during the Nordic Combined Men's Individual LH.
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Sergei Grits / AP photo

US women's snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis hit the snow hard in the cross semifinal as Canada's Dominique Maltais. tried to avoid her.
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Sergei Grits / AP photo

Italy's Michela Moioli, top right, and Bulgaria's Alexandra Jekova crash off a drop, as France's Chloe Trespeuch, left, and Faye Gulini of the United States follow during the women's snowboard cross final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.
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Alexander Demianchuk / REUTERS

Katerina Novotna of the Czech Republic went legs up into the wall during the women's 1,000 meters short track speed skating heats in the Iceberg Skating Palace.
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Mike Blake / REUTERS

Canada's Mikael Kingsbury crashed as he competed in the men's freestyle skiing moguls competition.
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Paul Chiasson / AP photo / The Canadian Press

Jeremy Abbott of the United States, crashed into the boards after falling during the men's short program figure skating competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. He got up to finish his program to laud applause.
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Issei Kato / REUTERS

Monique Angermueller of Germany had her feet in the air after crashing out during the women's 1,000 metres speed skating race at the Adler Arena.
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Andy Wong, Gero Breloer / AP photo

In this combination photo, Sweden's Henrik Harlaut lost his pants as he competed in the men's ski slopestyle qualifying Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.
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Britain's Jack Whelbourne, right, tumbled as Han Tianyu of China, left, and J.R. Celski of the United States skate on in a men's 1500m short track speedskating final at the Iceberg Skating Palace Monday, Feb. 10, 2014.
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